S:US

Commemorating Caribbean American Heritage Month

Alexis Geslani — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:15:37 +0000

Since 2006, June has been designated as Caribbean American Heritage Month by Presidential Proclamation. The month-long observance promotes the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean-American people and their contributions to our country.

An estimated 20% of the 8.8 million people in New York City have roots in the Caribbean. Caribbean Americans represent more than 30 nations, with a unique blend of heritage, culture, and languages. In fact, several languages spoken in Caribbean nations— Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole—are among the top spoken languages in our city.

Discover Caribbean American reading recommendations, resources, and events from the New York Public Library.

We stand with our staff, friends, neighbors, the people we serve, and all Caribbean Americans.

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From The Shelter System to Stable Housing

Alexis Geslani — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:31:33 +0000

Born and raised in New York City, Randy has always called the Bronx home. However, his journey, like many New Yorkers, included moments of uncertainty that eventually led him into the shelter system.

After tensions at home made it no longer possible to stay, Randy made the difficult decision to enter the shelter system. Over nearly two years in the shelter system, he navigated multiple placements and uncertainties, steadily working toward something more permanent.

A stable housing opportunity came through a connection made by his case manager, who introduced him to Alafia, Services for the UnderServed (S:US)’s affordable and supportive housing development in East New York. After touring the apartment and completing the application process, Randy was approved and moved into his Alafia apartment in 2025.

For Randy, having his own space brought both relief and a sense of dignity that had been missing during his time in shelter. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world, especially when you look outside and it’s below 10 degrees and it’s snowing and it’s raining and it’s cold… and you’re not outside in the street.”With a home of his own, he began to rebuild daily routines and self-sufficiency from grocery shopping to maintaining his apartment.

“[S:US’ Alafia] has saved me,” Randy shared. “It gave me my first apartment. I was ecstatic about it. I’m grateful.”He describes the experience of stable housing as transformative, offering him autonomy he hadn’t had before.

Today, Randy is working toward finding the right employment opportunity as he continues building his independence.

June is PTSD Awareness Month

Alexis Geslani — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:15:00 +0000

There are currently about 12 million people in the United States with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don’t get the help they need.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments work and can lead to a better quality of life.

PTSD is not always obvious. And despite its invisibility, there are many misconceptions and fears about the condition, particularly for veterans. A range of 11-30% of veterans have PTSD, depending on when and where they served.

Our remarkable staff members assist veterans and people challenged by PTSD as well as other life-altering obstacles like homelessness, substance use, and mental illness.

June 27 is PTSD Screening Day, and we encourage others to let people know about this.

The National Center for PTSD and Mental Health America have PTSD self-assessment tools available online. For additional resources, please visit Home Base.

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Federal housing cuts could leave 7K formerly homeless New Yorkers at risk

adminSus — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:49:38 +0000

June 1, 2026
Gothamist
Karen Yi

The Trump administration says it’s about to drastically change how it funds the nation’s largest homeless assistance program — a move that could push thousands of formerly homeless New Yorkers who currently have a place to live back into the city’s shelters and streets.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the changes to the Continuum of Care program are expected to be announced Monday are part of an effort to “optimize self-sufficiency” because too many homeless people live persistently on the streets. In President Donald Trump’s second term that has meant prioritizing transitional housing programs meant to bridge the gap between homelessness and permanent housing and treatment, rather than long-term housing programs.

Daniatia Lincoln, 43, said she’s been in supportive housing for more than a decade. She said it helped her get back on her feet when she was pregnant and living in a shelter. But advocates fear that the looming cuts could gut long-term housing programs like hers, which rely on federal funding.

“It’s what has allowed me to be what I am today,” said Lincoln, who lives in the Bronx and has four kids, with two in college out of state. “Why would I care about getting healthier if I don’t even know where I’m going to sleep tonight?”

Lincoln said she’s not sure where she would go with her children if the program ends, she might have to leave the city altogether or go back to the shelter system.

New York City receives $165 million from the federal government through Continuum of Care grants, according to the Supportive Housing Network of New York. The dollars help house more than 7,000 formerly homeless New Yorkers who have been homeless for more than a year and have other conditions like a mental illness or substance abuse disorder.

But housing advocates said a shift in priorities could upend decades of progress and torpedo “housing first”: a bipartisan model for solving homelessness that began in New York and relies on Continuum of Care grants. HUD has already signaled how it plans to change course through confusing guidance over the last year. The Supportive Housing Network of New York, an industry group, said it’s a blueprint of what’s to come and in the best case scenario, there would be a 40% cut to existing programs or about $66 million, and 2,800 units losing assistance.

Housing first means providers offer housing without any preconditions, and then provide the necessary support people need to get on their feet, like mental health counseling, health care or addiction and recovery services.

“ Housing is a fundamental ingredient in you building your life,” said Rod Jones, president of Goddard Riverside, a social services organization. He said when people aren’t worried about where they’ll live, they can take care of the other parts of their lives.

Supportive housing providers said with the sweeping policy change, they’re unsure how they’ll afford to keep their doors open next year. They warn it could drive up homelessness rates at a time when homelessness is at a near record high. The Trump administration is simultaneously cutting back other aid programs such as SNAP.

HUD officials said earlier this month the administration wants to “optimize self-sufficiency” and pointed at street homeless numbers as evidence that existing programs weren’t working. In an executive order issued last year, Trump highlighted the 274,000 people who slept on the street in a single night during the last year of the Biden administration and said it was the highest ever recorded.

Housing advocates say the Trump administration’s guidance has been chaotic.

In the last year, HUD has issued new requests for funding to cities and organizations who submit proposals but then rescinded them. The agency threatened to slash two-thirds of programs, prompting lawsuits. Congress intervened and ordered fewer cuts.

“ The past year has absolutely been a roller coaster,” said Rebecca Zangen, chief policy officer with the Supportive Housing Network of New York. She said she estimates about half the tenants are older adults.

“These are folks that are most likely to return to shelter, possibly the streets, and cycle through really traumatic and also expensive systems like shelters, emergency rooms, jails… It would be a tragic and honestly cruel outcome for these folks to lose their housing,” Zangen said.

And housing providers say they’re facing a more immediate threat: there’s no money for their current contracts. That’s leaving many scrounging to pay their bills and limit their reach.

”We’ve stopped signing any long-term leases really because we just don’t know in terms of what’s gonna happen, when we will get paid or if we will get paid from the federal government,” said Kevin Rente, chief strategy and program administrator at Harlem United, a social services organization.

He said the families they serve can begin to move beyond survival when they’re not worried about their housing.

”We have many families that the kids go to school, go to college, families start going back to work … it’s providing a stable home that is extremely, extremely important and necessary.”

Going back in time

Thea Jandzio, senior vice president of behavioral health for Services for the UnderServed, said she’s worried what the cuts could mean to the services they provide that help people sustain themselves. Part of the services that come with supportive housing include escorting people to appointments to get their documents or to the doctor, helping them with benefits and limited nursing services.

She fears the cuts will mean services will revert to how they were 30 years ago, when programs required sobriety or had work requirements.

“It’s like going back in time. That’s how I look at it,” Jandzio said.

She said many of the tenants they serve through the Continuum of Care are older adults, with some in their late 80s. Some have been in the program a year and others for more than 20.

“This is their life and their home,” she said. “And really, for the first time, never had maybe this kind of support and a sense of community.”

Eric Greene, 60, has been living in the Upper West Side in a single room for the last six years in a program run by Goddard Riverside that receives Continuum of Care funds. He said before that he spent 15 years living on the street and in and out of homeless shelters.

“ I used to sleep sitting up. My feet swelled up,” Greene said of his days sleeping on the train. He lives at The Senate, which opened in 1988 and is one of the city’s first supportive housing buildings.

He said his sleep these days is “very fantastic” but he’s still working through trauma of living on the streets, trying to stay sober and thinking about his future.

“Not that I want to be perfect, but I want to make myself better,” he said. “ I’m still going through emotional times.”

Read the original article here.

Celebrating Pride Month

Alexis Geslani — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:14:16 +0000

S:US staff at the 2025 NYC Pride March.

Happy Pride Month! June is Pride Month and is a time to come together, celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities, recognize the progress we’ve made, and continue working to make sure everyone has equal rights and feels welcome and included.

This year’s theme is “For All of Us,” referencing a quote widely attributed to LGBTQIA+ activist and Stonewall veteran Marsha P. Johnson: “There is no pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” As our trans and non-binary siblings face a growing wave of hateful attacks at every level of government, this year’s theme recalls the queer trail-blazers who came before us – and centers the ongoing fight on the most marginalized among us.

S:US will participate in the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 28. This event exemplifies our dedication to encourage individuals, advocates, and community leaders to reflect on current injustices and to empower NYC communities to take collective action in shaping a more equitable and inclusive future. Our presence at the march underscores our commitment to advancing social justice and creating opportunity for all.

S:US is proud to celebrate the diversity of our workforce and supports LGBTQIA+ staff, people served, and our community.

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Walking Together to End Hunger

adminSus — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:23:33 +0000

Services for the UnderServed staff.

Click here to view photos and videos.

Staff from across Services for the UnderServed (S:US) came together on May 28, World Hunger Day, for a 2.5‑mile Walk to End Hunger through four Bronx neighborhoods—Mott Haven, Melrose, Morrisania, and Concourse Village—raising awareness about food insecurity and strengthening our commitment to expanding access to nutritious, affordable food across New York City.

(Left) S:US staff on the Walk to End Hunger; (Center & Right) Bronx residents who received food totes.

Along the route, our team distributed more than 400 pounds of food, equivalent to 316 meals, to Bronx residents. This work reflects a reality we see every day: more than half of the people we serve face challenges accessing consistent, healthy food, and far too many New Yorkers continue to struggle with limited food options in their own neighborhoods.

Our Day Habilitation program participants with intellectual/developmental disabilities prepared food totes that were shared with residents throughout the walk—an example of how S:US’ Community Food Security Program brings people together to strengthen health, stability, and well‑being across the city.

(Top Left) Urban Farms; (Bottom Left) South Bronx Day Hab; (Center and right) S:US staff participants.

Mike Hollis, S:US VP of Community Food Security, captured the day’s impact:

“Over the course of the walk, we passed dozens of bodegas, but only a single supermarket and a small farmstand. The food choices available to people are shaped by the environments around them, and access to affordable, nutritious food depends on what is physically available in a neighborhood, what people can afford, and how easily they can reach it. People need to know where resources exist, trust the organizations providing them, and be able to access them consistently.”

At Services for the UnderServed, that work takes many forms—urban farms, community fridges, food tote distributions, nutrition education, and participant‑led initiatives—that strengthen local food access. No single effort solves food insecurity alone, but together they help build a more resilient and equitable food system.

Thank you to our staff for supporting our efforts. The Hunger Walk was a powerful reminder of what our collective effort and community commitment make possible at Services for the UnderServed.

Support S:US’ Community Food Security Program with a gift today.

Rebuilding a Life: Michael’s Recovery Journey

Alexis Geslani — Tue, 19 May 2026 19:53:07 +0000

Michael’s journey is grounded in honesty, resilience, and the quiet determination to rebuild a life that once felt beyond repair. After losing his wife, he said plainly, “I was lost. I didn’t know what to do or how to cope with it at all.” That grief pushed him into nine years of substance use and homelessness. “I was in the streets for nine years, homeless… I was eating out of garbage cans… I felt barbaric, like an animal.” His days were defined by fear, exhaustion, and survival. Yet even in that state, he reached a moment when he simply became tired of being tired.

That moment led him to ask for help. He called an ambulance, entered detox, then rehab, and eventually learned about Services for the UnderServed (S:US)’ Ujima House, a behavioral health recovery program in the Bronx. When he arrived, it was winter, and he had almost nothing. “I didn’t even have shoes… I was in slippers with no jacket,” he recalls. Despite missing paperwork, our team at Ujima House welcomed him with open arms. That small act of compassion became the doorway to Michael’s new chapter.

Inside Ujima House, Michael immediately felt something he hadn’t felt in years, acceptance. “The warmth and the love that [S:US staff] give you… they make you feel welcome,” he shared. His counselor, Ms. Harris, became a steady guide. “I told her, look, I don’t know what to do… and she said, we’ll take it one day at a time.” Together, they built a plan that included therapy, psychiatric support, and outpatient programs. Michael followed every step, even when it meant confronting parts of himself he had lost. He describes arriving at Ujima House as a man without identity, someone who had “lost self‑respect” and needed help rebuilding from the inside out.

After eight months, Michael regained confidence. The structure of the program offered the emotional support he needed to help him process the grief he had carried for years. He completed the program at Ujima House in 2025, and proudly shares, “I’m still clean. I’m two years and seventeen days clean.”

Michael now uses his experience to help others. He regularly returns to Ujima House and other community spaces to speak, encourage, and remind people that recovery is possible. “When you see somebody that you speak to and they get the help that you got… the reward is amazing,” he said.

For others who may be experiencing a similar situation, Michael advises, “Don’t be scared to ask for help. If you ask for the help, you will seek it and get it. It’s not impossible. You do recover. I’m proof of that.” Today, he is focused on finding employment, continuing his recovery journey, and staying connected to the community that helped him reclaim his life.

Cicely Cruz Honored as 2026 Nonprofit Trailblazer

adminSus — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:23:27 +0000

Services for the UnderServed is proud to celebrate Cicely Cruz, Director of Real Estate Leasing & Violations, for being recognized as a 2026 Nonprofit Trailblazer, an honor that highlights visionary leaders shaping stronger, more equitable communities across New York State.

Cicley Cruz

As a key leader overseeing a vast and complex portfolio, Cicely has played a pivotal role in expanding housing access, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving operational strength across the organization. Her work directly supports S:US’ mission to create pathways to stability, opportunity, and independence for New Yorkers facing the greatest barriers.

The S:US Board, staff, and our community join in congratulating Cicely on this well-deserved honor!

See the full list here.

Jaleel’s Journey to Independent Housing at Alafia

Alexis Geslani — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:10:02 +0000

At the age of 25, Jaleel wanted to know what it would feel like to have a home that was truly his own. A space to grow, to breathe, to figure out who he was, but independence felt far away from him navigating life with a learning disability and limited resources.

Jaleel lived with his family in the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing in Long Island City. It was an environment that kept him in constant stress while navigating unpredictable encounters in the neighborhood. “I just wanted my own space. I want to see what the experience is like living on my own, how to do my own rent and stuff.”

After three years of searching for a supportive housing option, Jaleel learned about opportunities through Services for the UnderServed (S:US) from his partner. With the help of his case manager, he applied for housing at S:US’ Alafia in East New York. The process took time, but when he finally interviewed for his apartment, he felt it was the right fit.

Jaleel finally moved into his own apartment in June 2025. He arrived only with his essentials, an airbed and clothing, but the moment he held the keys, he felt pride. “When I first saw this place [Alafia], I was just like, oh my God, this is really nice. This is really perfect for me. I felt like finally I made it. I did it.” Over time, he built up his new apartment piece by piece with guidance from S:US staff.

Living at Alafia has given Jaleel more than a roof over his head. It gives him the chance to manage his life on his own terms. He’s become more mindful about budgeting and learned to advocate for himself. “It’s relieving… I like living on my own. It’s a little less stressful,” shared Jaleel.

He appreciates the support from S:US staff, especially when navigating things like rent, bills, and paperwork. Having someone to ask questions makes the process of independent living less overwhelming. Jaleel wants others who are seeking independence to know what’s possible.

When he looks around his apartment now, he sees how much progress he’s made and the life he’s building. He sees the version of himself he always hoped he’d become. “It’s one of the best experiences I ever had living on my own,”he shared.

S:US’ Alafia has given Jaleel the foundation to grow, to dream, and to finally feel at home.

How Community Connection Helped a Veteran Move Forward

Alexis Geslani — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:50:31 +0000

When Terry first connected with Services for the UnderServed (S:US) through outreach at a local New York City veteran shelter, he wasn’t looking for help. For him, accepting support didn’t come naturally. As he explained, “Most military service members are hardheaded because we don’t want to accept help, because we’re not used to getting it.” Over time, S:US became a lifeline by offering stability, dignity, and a renewed sense of community.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Terry’s military journey spanned decades. He served in the U.S. Army beginning in 2004, eventually joining the National Guard. His years of service brought purpose and pride, but also hardships, including trauma, that followed him home. Reflecting on what it means to serve, he shared: “When you sign your name on a dotted line and you join the military, you more or less sign your rights away… But with that comes a lot of perks, because you feel good about yourself, because you’re serving your country.”

Transitioning to civilian life proved challenging. After losing his job and his home, Terry found himself couch-surfing before entering a homeless shelter for veterans. Asking for help felt foreign to him. “We’re used to being self-reliant, and now you’re depending on other people… But just because you lost everything, that doesn’t mean you lost support.”

At the shelter, he met S:US staff who visited weekly. It was the first step toward rebuilding his life. “There’s not one person I’ve interacted with at S:US that doesn’t want to help you… Everyone’s trying to help because they want you to get back on your feet.”

With assistance from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) team, including help with housing, employment resources, and essentials, Terry secured an apartment. “I actually got my own apartment. It’s my first apartment… I’m going to make it work.” The support he received mattered deeply to Terry, but so did the community connection and the care he felt from staff. “It’s more personal than anything else I’ve seen… Everybody legitimately really cares.”

Terry shares his story in hopes of encouraging other veterans who feel hesitant to seek support. “I would tell them to put their pride in their pocket… You can always replace material things; you can’t replace human connection.” He also spreads the word by sharing S:US information to other veterans who might need help. As he put it, “Whoever made the name for the organization [Services for the UnderServed]—it fits. Because we’re not just handed something; we make it happen together.”

With a safe home and renewed stability, Terry is moving forward and currently in the process of securing full-time employment. He is grateful for the small acts of kindness that helped him get here. “It takes two words to say thank you. It takes two seconds to smile… Simple things, but they make a big deal.”

This success story was made possible through a generous grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, with funding from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which enables S:US to expand our support services for service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers across New York City and Long Island. We’re proud to be a member of the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s #GotYour6 Network and thank them for helping us continue this critical work.